Article gathering apparatus



July 18, 1950 B. POLISENA ARTICLE GATHERING -APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1944 BERNARDOPOLISENA 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledhJune. 20, 1944 R 5 NNM BERNARDOI OLISENA July 18, 1950 POLlsENA 2,515,966

ARTICLE GATHERING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fr g=3= Znvcnfo: BERNARDOPOLISENA B. POLISENA ARTICLE GATHERING APPARATUS July 18, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 20, 1944 69 INVENTOR.

IFERNARDUFOLISENA & Y

ATTORNEYS July 18, 1950 POLlSENA 2,515,966

ARTICLE GATHERING APPARATUS Fiied June 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. 'BEBNARDOPOLISENA AT TORNEYS Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTICLE GATHERING APPARATUS Bernardo Polisena, Stockton, Calif.

Application June 20, 1944, Serial No. 541,355

4 Claims. I This invention relates to article gathering apparatus and has as its principal object the provision of a devic which may be utilized in the gathering or harvesting of such articles as figs and walnuts or the like from the ground.

A further important object of the invention resides in the provision of such an apparatus which may be utilized for the collection of other articles as, for example, grapes from either the ground or the floors or railway cars or truck for collection in a more readily handled receptacle.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of such an apparatus which may be used for harvesting potatoes or digging out Johnson or Bermuda grass.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in. part be pointed out hereinafter. I

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying, drawings and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved harvester as applied to the. forward end of a vehicle such as a tractor or the. like.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view looking in the direction. of lines 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section on line d4 of Figure 1..

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section. on line 5-5 of Figure 1,, parts being omitted for clarity.

Figure 6 is a top plan view showing only a portion of the main frame and the motors carried thereby.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective showing the construction of certain conveyor chains and flights used herein.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary View on line 88 of Figure 2. I

Figure 9 is a detail perspective of one of certain bearings used herein.

In the construction of the invention in the form herein illustrated there isprovided a main frame indicated in general at It]. This main frame as: shown in Figures 1 to 6, includes an outer frame member extending transversely of the machine at H and at each end of the transverse portion the outer frame is curved rearwardly as at 52 and then extends from the rear end of the curve as at l3, the two portions is being parallel. At the rear end of the portions [3 this outer frame member is bent downwardly as at M and then extends again rearwardly as at i 5 to lie on opposite sides of a tractor or the like as indicated at T. Suitable, bolts 16 secure this outer frame member to the tractor. B means of this construction the outer frame member is at its forward part offset upwardly from its connection to the tractor and the extent of this upward offsetting may be sufiicient to unload grapes from any height of vehicle or may be lowered to gather from the ground or dig into the ground as in harvesting potatoes and eradicating grasses.

As shown in Figure 6, a cross member H extends parallel to the portion H of the outer frame member and is spaced sufficiently to the rear of such outer frame member to permit the seating on the portion H and the cross member ll of two motors l8 and 19. Well to the rear of the cross member I! is a pair of cross members 263 spaced to permit mounting, thereon of a third motor 2!.

Beneath the upwardly offset part of the main frame there is provided a movable frame comprising, a pair of rear upright members 22 and a pair of forward upright members 23. The upright members 22 and 23 are connected at the top by longitudinal frame members 24, intermediate their heights by longitudinal frame members 25 and adjacent their lower ends as by longitudinal frame members 26. The frame members 22 and 23 at each side of the machine are connected by transverse members 27 so that there is thus formed a rigid secondary frame. The frame members 23 are somewhat shorter than the frame members 22 and on the lower ends of these frame members 22 and 23 are stub axles 28 upon which are mounted ground Wheels 29.

Thus this auxiliary or movable frame inclines forwardly when the ground wheels rest upon the ground. Pivoted to the frame members 25 are the legs of a yoke it which is connected by a rope 3'! to a winding drum d2 driven by the motor 2|. Bolts 33 pass through arouate slots 34 in the frame members 24 and are screwed into the yoke 36 so that the yoke may, if desired, be clamped against swinging movement by tightening up the bolts 33 or may be left loose for swinging movement by loosening the bolts 33.

Pivoted to the auxiliary frame at the forward ends of the members 25 is a pair of arms 35 and similarly a pair of arms 35 is pivoted to the auxiliary frame at the forward ends of the members 26. The members 36 are considerably longer than the members 35 and at each side of the machine an upright member 31 has its lower end pivoted on a shaft 38 which is journaled in the members 36 intermediate their ends. The members 31 are likewise pivoted on shafts 39 which extend between the forward ends of the members 35.

The members 37 extend upwardly and forwardly from the shaft 39 and carry at their upper ends alined stub shafts 40, best shown in Figure 4, and on the shafts 40 are carried chain sprockets 4|. A yoke 42 has its legs carried by the shaft 39 and this yoke is connected by a rope 43 to a winding drum 44 actuated by the motor I8. Pivoted on the shaft 39 is a pair of arms 45 which have their forward ends connected by shaft 46 which carries a pair of chain sprockets 47. A yoke 48 has its legs pivoted to the arms 45 as at 49 and this yoke is connected by a rope 50 to a winding drum driven by the motor I9.

Mounted on the frame members 25 are bearings 52 wherein is journaled a shaft 53 supporting a pair of spaced chain sprockets 54. The mem bers 37 are provided adjacent their lower ends with stub shafts 55 whereon are mounted chain sprockets 57. Riveted. to one of the chain sprockets 54 is a chain sprocket 58 which is connected by a chain 59 with a sprocket 60 mounted on the shaft of a motor 6| supported on members '52 extending transversely between the members 24. Chains 53 are trained around the sprockets 54 and 47 and over the sprockets 40 and 51, the arrangement being best seen in Figure 1.

The motor BI is arranged to drive the chain in the direction indicated b the arrow A. Spaced lengths of the two chains 63 are connected by flights 64 through which extend spaced and curved teeth 55.

On the frame members 25 is mounted a pair of bearings 66 wherein is journaled the shaft of a belt drum 31, a similar belt drum 38 being carried by the shaft 38. A belt 69 having rib-like flights 19 is trained over the drums 61 and 68. The teeth 65, in their rearward movement, travel along with the upper run of the belt 69 and in order to provide for maintaining uniformity of linear motion a gear H may be carried by one of the sprockets 54 and may mesh with a gear 72 carried by a drum 61, the gear ratio being such as to secure the proper uniformity of speed between the belt 59 and the adjacent ends of the teeth 85.

Between the forward end portions of the members 35 extends a lifter plate or shovel 73 which terminates forwardly in a series of spaced fingers 1'4 so arranged that the teeth 65 may, as they pass around the sprockets 55, engage in the spaces between the teeth 14. In order to prevent the load on the conveyor from being lost at the sides of the machine these sides are provided with plates 75 and at the rear end of the lower conveyor or belt 59 there is provided a receptacle 75 into which the material from the belt 69 is discharged.

In the operation of the device it may be driven to the locality of the articles to be gathered with the movable frame and its adjuncts raised. This is accomplished by operating the motors [8, I9 and 2! to cause their respective winding drums to wind up on the lifting ropes 3 I, 43 and 50. On arrival at the scene of operations it is generally preferable to lower the device until the ground 4 wheels 29 rest on the ground. If material is to be gathered very close to or on the ground the motors I8 and I9 are operated to relax the ropes 43 and 50 until the parts assume the position shown in full lines in Figure 1. However, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1, either the entire structure forward of the auxiliary frame may be raised by drawing upon the rope 43 or the forward sprockets and consequently the forward ends of the chains 63 may be raised by drawing upon the rope 50. When in raised position the apparatus may obviousl be operated to remove articles from the floor of a truck or railway car to be collected in receptacle 18.

When gathered by the fingers the material is carried rearwardly up the apron or shovel l3 and delivered onto the upper run of the belt 59, the material on this run moving backwardly just as the teeth 55 move backwardly so that it is not dragged over the belt 69 but travels uniformly with it. At the rear end the material is delivered to the receptacle 16 from which it may be removed as desired.

What is claimed, is:

1. An article gathering apparatus including a transverse main frame adapted to be attached to the forward portion of a motor vehicle and extend forwardly therefrom, a plurality of motors carried by said main frame, winding drums operable by said motors, a secondary frame carried beneath said main frame, connections between the forward end of said secondary frame and certain of said winding drums, and connections between the rear end of said secondary frame and others of said winding drums whereby selective raising or lowering of either end of said secondar frame may be effected and article gathering means carried by said secondary frame.

2. The construction of claim 1 wherein the article gathering means includes forwardly ex tending spaced fingers, a belt having rib-like flights thereon rearwardly of said fingers, sprockets carried by said secondary frame on opposite sides thereof, chains operable by said sprockets, flights between said chains, teeth carried by said last mentioned flights and motor means for driving said belt and said sprockets.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein gearing is provided between said sprockets and the drive means for said belt to provide synchronous motion therebetween.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said teeth extend to the forward extremity of said apparatus between said fingers.

BERNARDO POLISENA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 880,887 Holman Mar. 3, 1908 897,844 Nettleship Sept. 1, 1908 1,153,968 Speck Sept. 21, 1915 1,226,573 Nelson May 15, 1917 1,572,025 Maglathlin Feb. 9, 1926 1,907,467 Tervo et al. May 9, 1938 1,928,236 Thoen Sept. 26, 1933 2,073,653 Rust et al Mar. 16, 1937 2,208,128 Holbrook et al July 16, 1940 2,320,953 Shenstone July 1, 1943 

